Cops: Man hit, threatened woman in front of child

Updated 12:33 pm, Monday, October 17, 2011

ALBANY -- A 33-year-old city man punched the mother of his 2-year-old son in the face and threatened her with a steak knife while the child was in the room Sunday morning, police said.

Barry Essannason was charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child for the alleged assault and threat at his South End home.

Police said Essannason and the woman were arguing about custody of the boy around 11 a.m. at Essannason's home at 14 Elmendorf St. when Essannason repeatedly struck the woman in the face and knocked her to the ground, said Officer James Miller.

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Essannason then grabbed a steak knife, stood over the woman and said "If you're going to court to try to take my son away from me, you'll be sorry," according to Miller.

Essannason was arrested shortly after the incident and will be arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court on Monday afternoon.